Bargaining on hotel package

mjp

Got engaged last weekend and going looking at our preferred venue this weekend. Will more than likely choose this option as its only suitable date available for next summer and getting it due to a cancellation.

Wondering how much you can bargain with venue and how much extra to ask for when trying to bargain. Am guessing that they will expect you to bargain so they must surely have some wiggleroom on price and additional options.
Am wary that she senses how desperate we are for venue and seeing as they booked up already for whole summer on Fri/Saturday they will have no issue getting booking for the room.

Any help or tips when bargaining much appreciated?

lazygal

Venues won't cut the price too much, they're more likely to offer additional things. It depends on how much in demand they are. We looked at a couple of venues that had no wiggle room at all, and could easily fill the date we wanted so didn't need to win us over. In the end we went for a place that was convenient and within budget, I think the bar extension was free and they threw in a couple of extras like evening food and more choice on the menu. The price was the price.

stargazer 68

Yes unlikely to move on the price but should definitely add in a few extras - I know ours did. The original package was prosecco for the bridal party and tea and coffee for guests on arrival - they gave us the prosecco, tea and coffee and scones for everyone as well as an upgrade on the evening food and a few other bits and pieces.

PhoenixParker

We bargained the price per head down quite a bit, or rather my husband did. Basically he went for their top package and got them to discount it significantly. I guess the effect is similar to adding things to cheaper packages.

I think it helped that we were about six months from the date and the date was a free Saturday. At 12-24 months out hotels know they've a better chance of selling the date, as it gets closer they're happier to just get it filled.

fitzparker

Hi All, I was actually going to create a thread on this... is bargaining possible when booking venue? we booked ours last year for 2018 but didn't ask for anything (sort of just jumped at it, id say the planner was delighted). Now on review, I feel hard done by we got nothing out of them. looking at the contract, should we use the room to get married in they are charging €250 for this, and also didn't even throw in rooms for parents.

We went for one of the dearer packages which already includes late bar and evening food, do you think I should get onto them and see what can be done? or once contract is signed its tough?

clint_silver

fitzparker wrote: »

Hi All, I was actually going to create a thread on this... is bargaining possible when booking venue? we booked ours last year for 2018 but didn't ask for anything (sort of just jumped at it, id say the planner was delighted). Now on review, I feel hard done by we got nothing out of them. looking at the contract, should we use the room to get married in they are charging €250 for this, and also didn't even throw in rooms for parents.

We went for one of the dearer packages which already includes late bar and evening food, do you think I should get onto them and see what can be done? or once contract is signed its tough?

Its certainly harder once things are locked in but ask nicely. Be clear on what you are looking for, have a list of things you dont have so ask could they be added on.

Some hotels, and in fact all wedding vendors, have bargaining room built in, but some don't, they give you their best price and thats it so dont feel hard done by if you get nothing from them.

Variable factors are as outlined above, how near the date is.

fitzparker

clint_silver wrote: »

Its certainly harder once things are locked in but ask nicely. Be clear on what you are looking for, have a list of things you dont have so ask could they be added on.

Some hotels, and in fact all wedding vendors, have bargaining room built in, but some don't, they give you their best price and thats it so dont feel hard done by if you get nothing from them.

Variable factors are as outlined above, how near the date is.

Yes I may get back and ask about the above, possible something can be done, if not it is what it is I suppose. we advised it is a booking for 100 but now we feel around 140 maybe they can bring the per head price down.

Will loop back in when I get a response!

cooperguy

I would say attempting to bargain is essential. The ideal is to have two venues and play them off each other (even if you are really only keen on one of them). In the end what I negotiated was the top package for the mid-package price, they gave us two extra rooms for free and 40% off the price of the kids meals. I spent a week going over and back by email to the two venues working on each bit of the package (i.e. I started with the most important part, the package price and negotiated them down on that, I then said that the other venue had offered me the two additional rooms and could they match it. Finally I asked them about the price of the kids meal, it was a relatively small saving but every little helps!).